Released on September 18, The New Cool initially debuted at number 2 on Billboard’s Current Contemporary Jazz Chart and has received enthusiastic reviews, robust sales and abundant airplay from top stations ever since. James and East, the long-time collaborators, recorded the album entirely in Nashville and emerged with an unexpected and audacious collection of original compositions, plus a few handpicked classics.

“The New Cool project carries with it a special level of excitement for me as Bob and I have been courting the idea of this duo adventure for many years,” said East, who released his self-titled, GRAMMY nominated solo debut album last year via Yamaha Entertainment Group on the heels of playing on Daft Punk’s 2014 GRAMMY-winning Record of the Year Get Lucky. “I’ve always loved the sound of the piano and bass together, and have enjoyed duo recordings by the greats: Bill Evans & Eddie Gomez and Keith Jarrett & Charlie Haden. The New Cool is our celebration of more than 25 years of friendship and musical camaraderie. This collaboration was embraced by Yamaha Entertainment Group and producer Chris Gero, who took it yet to another level.”

“The more I played with Nathan over the course of many live performances and spanning more than 25 years, the more in sync we were whether or not we had the anchor of the drums,” said James, a two-time GRAMMY winner considered one of the founding fathers of smooth/contemporary jazz and whose extensive catalogue is frequently sampled on hip hop tracks. “Something special happens when we only have each other’s notes to play off of, when the music is totally exposed.”

“I’m thrilled to see others as excited about The New Cool as we are here at Yamaha,” said Gero, founder and vice president of Yamaha Entertainment Group. “It is no surprise the album is loved by many when you look at how talented and respected Bob and Nathan are.”